Brakes Groaning

[kmesse]

2001 S40. After much research, appears to be a common problem with no solutions discovered yet. First I'll hear a loud pop when I start the car. I get the same thing in my other cars when it's been wet out, sounds like the e-brake shifting a bit. Let go of brake, a groan as it releases. Then a hellish groan when I'm stopping. This seems to happen mostly when the weather is humid and car is cold, doesn't always do it later in the day or after it warms up. I've replaced all pads and rotors (ceramic), no help. Had a bad axle replaced, no help. I do have a bad strut spring mount they say.

I've read someone had it go away if they shaved the pad edges or something, anyone hear of that?
I've read some had luck with going back to oem organic pads. Anyone hear of that?
Anyone hear anything where the issue had gone away for good?

Kevin

[alschnertz]

2001 S40. After much research, appears to be a common problem with no solutions discovered yet. First I'll hear a loud pop when I start the car. I get the same thing in my other cars when it's been wet out, sounds like the e-brake shifting a bit. Let go of brake, a groan as it releases. Then a hellish groan when I'm stopping. This seems to happen mostly when the weather is humid and car is cold, doesn't always do it later in the day or after it warms up. I've replaced all pads and rotors (ceramic), no help. Had a bad axle replaced, no help. I do have a bad strut spring mount they say.

I've read someone had it go away if they shaved the pad edges or something, anyone hear of that?
I've read some had luck with going back to oem organic pads. Anyone hear of that?
Anyone hear anything where the issue had gone away for good?

Kevin

I also have a '01 S40. Your issue has not been a "common problem" with my car.

Where is the "loud pop when I start the car" coming from? Under the hood or under the body? Front or rear?

Perhaps the "hellish groan" is surface rust on the rotors when the car has been sitting in the rain or under very humid conditions. That would not be anything to be concerned with.

I don't use ceramic pads - usually factory or factory equivalent pads. I don't think '01 models came from the factory with ceramic pads.

I think it's unlikely that a bad axle or strut mount is groaning.

I've never "shaved" the pads. Come to think of it though, I did have a problem with aftermarket pads once that were not properly sized for the rotors.